Dec 18, 2018 - Hot and steamy

We arrived at Brisbane airport on Sunday morning after a long uneventful flight. Jane is looking after our bonsai and has decorated it with lovely lights. We went for a walk after dinner tonight as the weather has improved and we only had a couple oflight showers today. We had a paddle in the water just to reminisce the many times we landed our tender here and walked down the street to Jane's house with a load of washing on the trolley, when we were sailing the catamaran. A couple of nice light displays along the way.

Dec 5, 2018 - Crescent Head to Home

5/12/2018. Wednesday. Warm Crescent Head to Brisbane We were up early packing for home. It was a very pretty drive from Crescent Head to the highway, and a breeze driving on the new double and sometimes triple lane divided highway which will be completed in 2020. We drove for about 2 hours through roadworks which will link the southern section with the northern, before back on a completed section which led to the border. Although the traffic from the coast to home was heavy, it moved freely and we had no holdups, and arrived home about...

Dec 4, 2018 - 1 day to go

Tuesday 4th Dec Scary - if it's not done by tonight - we can forget it. Hopefully our checklist will see us through and nothing major has been missed Today Jan had a couple of appointments in the morning, and Ron stayed home and finished his "should I-will I" packing. All got done by 12:00noon and we headed up to our brand new Community Centre to have lunch from the bistro with long term friends (and fellow residents). Very enjoyable and a reasonable price and good company. One last trip back over to Keperra in the afternoon for some last...

Dec 3, 2018 - 2 days to go

Monday 3rd - counting down Today we were soooo excited that it was getting closer and closer AND THEN ..... we heard that the John and Kaye's hire car was the object of a Smash and Grab. All caught on video by nearby witnesses while they were having lunch nearby. The "grab" was some back packs and duffel bags. The content was 3 passports, laptops, iPads, and personal belongings. Some hours later after police attendance, bags were found abandoned missing laptops and iPads BUT still containing the passports. That was a major answer to prayer....

Dec 2, 2018 - Taigum - 3 days to go

Sunday 2nd Dec Brisbane The pressure's on - 3 folk asked me today if I was going to do a trip journal. Well I guess this is it. Let's hope I get enough free time to keep you up to date 3 days to go and Jan is packed - BUT Ron is not - not much to go in though so I think we 'll both be on the plane. John and Kaye and the 3 kids are already in the States working their way to Canada where they will meet us when we get there on the 5th.

Nov 10, 2018 - Heron Island

Heron Island We sat around for a while in Gladstone Harbour until the boat was loaded then we boarded. The boat departed about five minutes late, but no worries, and took its course out of the harbour and off towards Heron Island. A bumpy crossing with a good breeze but no ‘mal de mer’ evident. Arrived at Heron Island after the two hour boat trip, a brief welcome and orientation then on to our room. Too late to snorkel today as it was now low tide so we just relaxed until dinner time. Buffet dinner, we ate far too much, collapsed into...

Nov 6, 2018 - Brisbane to Heron Island

Brisbane to Heron Island Up early with bright sunshine flooding our room. Found breakfast in the Skygate complex opposite the hotel - smashed avocado and feta with smoked salmon on sourdough, very Australia! We visited the Woolworths to buy stuff for lunch and found the ‘Timtams’, a real reminder of our earlier trips. It was great to wander across in the warm sunshine, people greeting us as we walked, everyone is so friendly its almost like coming home - the jacaranda trees were in full bloom plus all the strelitzia, agapanthus, wattle...

Nov 6, 2018 - We’ve arrived!

LGW to Brisbane All the last minute jobs completed, garden and house ready for winter (as far as possible), all packed, the car arrived and we were off to the airport. Not the smoothest drive but we arrived at the airport safe and sound and in plenty of time. Just as well as we discovered an issue with Ruth’s visa. The Emirates staff sorted it and we were checked in and soon in the lounge. A large glass of champagne (well maybe several) and all seemed well with the world. It was soon time to board and off we went. Dubai. The cabin was full...

Oct 29, 2018 - The Great Barrier Reef

After Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the state of the Northern Territory, we flew to Cairns in the state of Queensland. I forgot to mention before, Qantas still feeds you on flights over 2 hours! So civilized! Upon arrival in Cairns we had a transfer up to Port Douglas. The drive was beautiful. It was called the Pacific Highway and rivaled our own Pacific Coast Highway in California. Stayed at the Ramada resort outside of town. Just so so. Pretty property. Like a rain forest which the area is in. We walked about three miles on the beach into town....

Oct 21, 2018 - A streetcar named "Helensvale"

Off to Helensvale on the streetcar named Helensvale. We could have walked 500 metres to the 777 bus stop and taken the bus to the terminus but instead we drove to Pacific Fair and snuck out the entrance and walked over to the terminus for this was to be an End to End then back again experience. The G link system has been obviously well thought out, shaded bike shelters at each stop and chilled still or aerated water at each stop, your bottle or theirs. The ticketing machine was easy to get the gist of and we bought return Concessions @...

Oct 20, 2018 - Off to the Hinterland

Off to the hinterland today. No not as far as O'Riellys, once along that road is enough... So we went to Canungra and Beaudessert. Its funny how revisiting somewhere can bring back strange memories. When in 1970 I completed training at JTC the chief instructor had earned himself the nick name “And errr consequently” because that's about all he had to say. Due to the heavy rain over night the creeks have all risen “and err consequently” we cant practice creek crossing today “and errr consequently” your programs will need to be amended AND it...

Oct 19, 2018 - A day with the birds

Off to Currumbin today as we thought it would be the “tame” option for the mandatory theme park visit. The weather was on our side today as well. By the time we arrived the animals and birds had already been fed so most were asleep in their dens. The Brush turkeys were building their huge nests of forest litter and other birds were wandering around. They also have rope courses here for people who think climbing on ropes for pointless exercise is fun, I wonder at the roping course at Canungra do they have safety harness and safety helmets...